Most kits will work but may require some effort. Worse thing about most of the kits I've seen is the compressor is tiny and will take a while to refill a flat tire. But they hopefully will keep you from getting stranded somewhere.

 

At least you could plug and have bike transported to an air pump. I found some auto service centres would not repair a motorcycle tire since their equipment could not handle the rim size. And the MC shops are not as easy to find or are closed. I don't carry the compressor so just a small plug kit and I will have the bike towed.

The plug itself is easy to use. Check Youtube for videos and maybe read the instructions for yours before you need it as I find it difficult to read the instructions at the side of the road/night/rain/unhappy with flat etc. Practice sounds like a good idea so you know what you are doing and not have to do the first one under adverse situations.

G.

 

My Shadow has tube tires, but my scooter is tubeless and yes, I've had to use a tire plug while on a multi-day trip.

It was a cheapo plug kit I picked up at an auto store. It worked just fine...and I was able to get the tire changed the next morning.

Another time I ran over a roofing nail and, using the same kit as before, was not able to plug the leak, even after using up several plugs. I had to trash the tire. I decided to get something that would work with better consistency.

I've since picked up a Stop and Go tubeless tire repair kit with CO2 cartridges. I haven't had to use it yet, but it came highly recommended.

Tire Pluggers - Repair Flat Tires With Ease

You'll get differing opinions (arguments) on whether or not you should replace a plugged tire. Some people ride it out as long as it lasts. Others say to get the tire replaced at the next good opportunity. I replaced the plugged tire I mentioned above as soon as I could because I was hundreds of miles from home and the tire was pretty worn as it was. I didn't want to take the chance.

 

Did you find the plug kits easy to use?

For those who have already responded, did you find the plug kits relatively easy to use?

I have read the threads about using 'run flat' and slime, etc, but it is the plugs (mushroom and regular thread plugs) that I am curious about.

Any of you practice BEFORE you had to use them?

 

For those who have already responded, did you find the plug kits relatively easy to use?

The first time I ever successfully plugged a flat tire was the first time I ever used a plug repair kit.
Easy.
The kit had instructions. I just read 'em. :smile:

 

Plugging a tire is easy. Done many times myself. YouTube or google it.

 

Have one in my bag along with 5 CO2 cartridges. It saved my ass once on a long trip where i picked up a nail. I was able to the get 25+ lbs in the tire and drive it to a filing station 20 miles away and air it up the rest of the way. I'd probably STILL be there if I didn't have the kit. Very easy to plug a tire if it's not on side. One of the reasons I will never have a bike with tubed tires, even though I like the looks of spokes.

 

Well, since you woke me up....

I've been carrying a small compressor for years, but I couldn't use it for the first couple of years of owning the Venture and I didn't even know it. The comp had a cigarette plug for power, and one day I finally figured I should do a little dry run try out in the garage.

I plugged the comp in to the power port on the RSV and immediately blew a fuse. It turns out that the compressor pulls more power than a five amp fuse could handle. So I cut the factory cig adapter off of the comp and added alligator clamps. Now I can go right to the battery. But I'm not confident of that set up.

I've been meaning to pick up one of the CO2 cartride inflators, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. They take up less space, and there shouldn't be a downside with them.

edit; Oh, and I like string plugs. They're very easy to use and I have never had one fail.

 

I've plugged two bike tires. Both times in the comfort of my garage.

I started with the sticky strings; it worked like a champ.

Then I read about "mushroom" plugs, and thought that sounds better. Well, I could not make the plug slide through the injector tube. I fought it for about an hour and finally resorted to the string plugs. Perhaps I got a defective kit, but I don't see how the mushroom plugs could ever work. Anyway, thumbs up for string plugs.

 

I've used the cargol turn-n-go plugs on numerous occasions on motorbikes and 4wds and they are great. I carry co2 cylinders on the bike and usually end up helping someone else. As a backup I carry a small mountain bike pump which is tiring but a lifesaver.


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A really good portable pump is the CyclePump. Pricey but a quality unit. I bring mine along for the big rides. I tried the CO2 canisters but found I needed quite a few to pump the tire up. And even then couldn't get the tire up to 30 psi.

 

does anyone have suggestions for fixing a tubed tire on the fly? i've seen a product called Slime a few times but reviews were kinda mixed

 

Slime makes a tube tire sealant, but it appears to be designed for bicycle tires. Still, I carry a bottle of it in my saddlebags, mostly for use as a desperation repair...as in: "The sun is setting in 15 minutes, I'm out of cell phone range, and the zombies around here mostly come out at night."

I'm hoping that, if I get a flat, the Slime may help me limp home or, if I'm on a trip, at least to the next town.

I think I bought it at Wally World.

I hope someone comes up with a better solution someday.

 

Most times your going to be out of luck. Unless the tube has a tiny hole, the tube will have to be replaced.

 

I've plugged 2 bike tires. the first was on my friends 2 week old Harley dyna wide glide. he rode it for about 2 months with no problems at all, but he was nervous about it and ended up buying a new tire. the second was on my other friends cbr 600. tire was 3 days old and picked up a nail. plugged it, and he ran that tire till it was dead with never a problem out of the plug. as for filling them, both of those repairs were done in my driveway, so I had my full size compressor for that. both were plugged with string plugs also. when I bought my shadow, the tubeless tires was a big selling point for me.

 

Had to plug the rear OEM Dunlop @ 6,000 mi. Plug worked excellent until 12,000 mi. replacement. If it was the front I would probably addressed the plugging almost immediatly but... Since then I also added a CO2 kit with the plugging kit. Also used the kit on two autos with no problems. Plugging tires is a long time practice of repair of tubeless tires. The inside out plug method is the most prefferable choice but when on the road the external method works very well from my experience.

when I bought my shadow, the tubeless tires was a big selling point for me.

+1! Beside spoke wheels are a pain in the arse to keep clean which cuts into my riding time. WD 40 and micro fiber cloth are my cleaning tools of choice for cast wheels.

 

I've plugged one mc tire with a string plug and inflated it with a 12V pump plugged into my truck. It was a poker run before I had a bike and we were helping park the bikes. Not sure how long it held up but it seemed solid enough to get the rider home at the least.

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My repair kit uses CO2 cartridges. Much more compact than a pump although they won't fill a big tire completely. WARNING: CO2 should be replaced with air once you get to a fill station. CO2 volume will change significantly with changes in temperature (the opposite of nitrogen) which will leave your tires underinflated on colder mornings.

Five cartridges will get you sufficient inflation to drive safely at reduced speeds (50mph) until you get a fill station. I ahve plugged tires, especially offroad and never had a problem. I will pull the plug and replace with a patch once I have time.

Tom

 

Back in the days when most vehicles had tubed tires I used a product called finilec..it was a tube of stuff with a nozzel on the end that screwed over the valve cap then you fired it into the tube and it inflated the tube and came out of the hole where upon contact with the air it hardened..it worked really well but because of the hardening process it took a lot of work to get the tire off and more work to clean it up for the new tube..I figured that because the tire had a hole in it and because I had got home safely it was worth buying a new tire and tube..

John.

 

I think that a CO2 cartridge inflator would be a good thing to have along. Can anyone recommend a specific type/brand? One that you have actually used.

 

I have the Stop-n-Go mushroom plugs and co2 cartriges. I've used the plugs on two motorcycle tires and several cars. I found it easy to use and long lasting. I haven't had to use the co2 yet, but I feel it's worth having.